Eric Weddle in the NFL

DD.com E-Mail</font> [Rob]:

I am shocked that Eric Weddle</font> isn't in you top 10 safties. He showed over the course of the season that he is far superior to John Wendling</font>, in the Senior Bowl he made more plays than any other safety. Oh yeah, he ran a 4.48 40 at the combine, ran on of the faster 20 yard times, has the hands of a reciever, and is more versitile than any player in the draft. Please tell me it is just a mistake and you really meant to put him in the top 5 but forgot. If you need any more reasons go watch the Emerald Bowl when Utah played Georiga Tech. (He played man coverage on Calvin Johnson almost the entire game. Johnson had 2 catched for 14 yards). Get over the work out times and big school bias and look at the player on the field too. If you actually did your homework and watched film and studied a player as a whole, you'd get more accurate results. I don't think that Weddle is the best safety in the draft, but I can't think of more than 2 I would consider over him. LaRon Landry for sure and maybe Michael Griffin.

DD.com Reply:</font>

No mistake on our part, Rob. We have Eric Weddle</font> ranked as a "cornerback", which is the position he made All-American at in 2006. He was also played cornerback (and some safety) when we watched him at the Senior Bowl and he was listed as a cornerback on the Combine roster, so we have to wonder why you assumed he would only be listed as a safety?

As you noted, he did shut-down Calvin Johnson in a 2005 bowl game and ran pretty well at the Combine, which makes this theory that he "must move to safety" in the N.F.L. more absurd to us. We recently updated the cornerback rankings and ranked Eric in the top 10. Considering how valued corners are on draft day, any top 10 cornerback projects as a Day one pick.

By the way, we have talked to Weddle personally and will be printing an interview on his combine experiences in the coming days. We like him a lot as a player and person and hope he does well at the next level, whether he plays cornerback or safety. If you ever meet Eric Weddle, you'll find out why he's a very easy person to like. He'll be a great addition to any N.F.L. team.

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ToughJ.Riggins said:

There is no way Eric Weddle will be allowed to play corner. Look at the history; Dustin Fox was a standout performer at corner for a perenial top 10 team in Ohio St. He had better workout numbers than Weddle 4.45, 42.5 inch vert. Look where he is employed Eagles Practice squad as a saftey.

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From FOOTBALL.COM said:

What did you measure in at?

5-11, 203.

Doing tjhe whole workout?

Yes sir.

Do you have a favorite of those touchdowns?

The Tulsa game. The last touchdown. We were driving down and had to ice the game. He put me in to run QB runs and got a couple first downs and that four yard run. So we sealed the victory and got the 'W.; a couple of them we lost. I don't want to put that one up there.


What do you bring to the table for the casual fan?

Versatilty. Just a guy who loves football and who'll do anything for the team.I'll go out there and play special teams like I've done in my career. I'll play offense or defense or whatever the team needs. And I'll do the best I can.

How many years did you hold?

Two years.

On Holding.

It's a challenge. People say all you can do is fail at it. You're expected to put it down and if you mess up, it's your fault. But I look at it as an opportunity. An opportunity to help the team. And we've had a bunch of fakes to get first downs and get touchdowns. I love getting in there and helping the team anyway possible. If it is holding, then that is what I'll do.

Did you see the Dallas playoff game?

Yes sir. He didn't look it in there. But that happens.

The Cowboys talk to you about holding?

No......I'll do it though. No doubt about it.

Seems like you save your best for the bowl games

I pride myself on preparation. Knowing what the team is going to do, knowing what my job is, and to excel at it. You give me four weeks to prepare for a team and prepare for an opponent and I'll make the most of it. I'll spend every minute worrying about my position and worrying about the team. That is where you have to rise to the moment because the other team has that much time to prepare for you. So you have to put that much more time and work into it. A lot of it goes into conditioning and working out. Not only practicing but doing those things to get your body right for a bowl game. Utah has six straight bowl wins and we're doing doing the right things and it shows on our bowl record.

Did you draw Calvin Johnson in double coverage?

Double coverage? We don't double cover. I play man to man.

How was that challenge?

Great.

He may be the first player taken.

Yeah, I know. Look at the film. It was a great game.

You've said you'll do anything, but what do you envision yourself doing with your skills?

Playing on special teams. I've had experience on all the special teams. I've been the gunner, punt returner, blocking the kicks, front line of kickoff returns. I've played nickel back, played up in the box. I've had experience and excelled at all the defensive back positions in college so I'm comfortable with all the positions and situations.

Where would you pick to go?

I don't have a favorite. I like them all.

About his position and versatility.

I'm going in as a defensive back. But just the things I had to do for my college team and have on film shows that I am able to do those kinds of things. But everyone is looking at me as a defensive back and down the road if they need me to go block or hold, they know I can do that and know I have experience at it so they won't have to look at someone else who hasn't done it before.

Even kick?

Even kick. I've kicked two times and averaged 34 yards.

You mean punting?

Yes, you don't want me field goal kicking. I'll shank it right.

How did you shut down Calvin Johnson?

Like I said, I had four weeks to prepare for a player of his caliber. You have to bring your A plus game. If you film study you can eliminate stuff. Like down and distance, first down and third down split or where the ball is located. You can eliminate 90 percent of what the guys is going to do just based by his split, his release. So half the game I knew what he was going to do before he did it and I was just breaking on the routes. No disrespect to their team but the times they threw to him I was just breaking on the ball.

You married a girl from Utah State?

Yes, my wife has a scholarship from Utah State. She and I went to high school together. She was a year older. Then I came out and we dated other people then got together.


So when you go to the Utah-Utah State game, which side will you sit on?

Oh, I am always a Ute. Always will be and she'll do what I tell her. I'm just kidding. She'll bleed blue.


You know she may see this?

She knows. She'll laugh along with it. No, she's great and she means the world to me. This is why I'm here. For her and my family. I love football but I'm doing this for my wife to have a good life. I'm not going to be able to play football forever and I want to help kids and be a teacher, coach football, be a good husband and a great guy.

What was your degree in?

Special Education. Mild to moderate disabilities.

When did you graduate?

I am going to graduate, I am student teaching.

Have any teams shown a great deal of interrest like the Patriots?

Yes, I've talked to them a bunch and a bunch of other teams. Right now, it's really heresay and theresay. You've got a little over two months before draft day and a lot can happen like trades and free agency. Draft picks can be traded so I'm just going to go out there and do what I can control. Run times, do everything they want me to do and go out there and do the best I can.

Talk to the Cardinals?

I may have at the Senior Bowl, but not here yet.

At the Senior Bowl or here have NFL teams asked about your position?

Yes, the million dollar question was what I like better;corner or safety. I think they get irritated because I say both of them because they want top hear an answer, but thats true. I love playing man to man, I love playing outside and the challenge it brings, I love blitzing, I love playing zones or being around the box. Just whatever the team needs.

Have teams asked about playing offense or holding?

Not really, they haven't brought it up. They know I can do it but they know I'm coming in as a defensive back. They know I have experience at it.

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Don Wassall said:

Mayer led the Big 10 in tackles as a senior -- a phenomenal feat from the safety position.  All the guy did was make tackles and big plays, but his lack of "superb" measurables was the NFL's pretext for ignoring him.  He could have been a fine NFL safety.  Mayer reminds me in that way of Pat Tillman, whose athleticism was regularly ridiculed even after he made over 200 tackles for the Cardinals one season, simply an unbelievable total for a safety.  It wasn't until Tillman joined the Special Forces following 9/11 that the media let up on him.

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Thrashen said:

whiteafflete15

"Neither are the Patriots. They'll start white on defense, but only at linebacker and defensive line. I can't remember the last time I even saw a reserve white in the defensive backfield for the Pats."

Actually, Shawn Mayer (though mostly a special teams player) played for the Patriots (and actually saw a fair amount of time at strong safety) from 2003-2005. This is before being cut by the Patriots, Falcons, then playing in NFL Europe. He's now on the Browns. As I said, there isnt a single NFL franchise known for giving white DB's a fair chance. The fairest team to white DB's overall (and on defense in general) is currently the Bills.

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